Matt Shoemaker

All eyes were on Shoemaker to see if he could repeat his stellar season as a 28-year-old rookie after six seasons spent in the minor leagues, but aside from a brilliant month of July that saw him post...

After beginning the season as a reliever, Shoemaker seemed unlikely to become a major piece in the rotation in 2014, but he got his chance when Hector Santiago was temporarily removed in early May. The career minor leaguer jumped in with both feet, tallying a 3.38 ERA in four starts. He remained in the rotation through a rough patch in June, and went on to allow just 19 earned runs in 82 innings after July 1. Shoemaker was able to find success in 2014 by combining an above-average strikeout rate (22.8%) with a microscopic walk rate (4.4%). He also kept his HR/9 below 1.00 after struggling with the long ball the previous three seasons in the minors. Shoemaker missed the final two weeks of the season with an oblique strain, but was able to pitch in Game 2 of the ALDS. He could be a steal on draft day if the price remains low based on his less-than-stellar numbers over three-plus seasons at Triple-A Salt Lake.

2014

Shoemaker wasn't expected to be a starter in the major leagues in 2013 when the season began, but an injury to Jered Weaver, combined with the lack of options for the Angels, resulted in the first start of his career against the Mariners in September, where he pitched five innings of two-hit ball, with five strikeouts. Shoemaker had a representative season in Triple-A Salt Lake in 2013, as although he finished with a 4.64 ERA, his K/9 (7.8) and BB/9 (1.4) rates were the best such numbers of his career. The main flaw in Shoemaker's game seems to be a tendency to surrender home runs, as his HR/9 rate of 1.3 was the highest of his career. With the lack of viable options at the back end of the Angels' rotation heading into 2014, however, Shoemaker may be given a chance to secure a role as a starting pitcher in spring training.